Friendship,advice and support if estrangement has affected your life.

Quick update......buyers mortgage valuation on Monday. Perhaps their ears were burning. Lol.

Veins.....perhaps you have tried it, but drinking lots of water helps.

Yes, it's a problem with difficult veins.

I had quite a laugh with her - one reason I'm having these blood tests is that I am constantly hot. Really hot. The sweat pours off of me.

At night, my poor DH has to put up with various coolers blasting out, at full throttle. He lays shivering, I'm laying on top of the bed, moaning I'm hot.

The nurse is going through the menopause, so she was also red faced, sweating and puffing -we were like a pair of steam trains, panting and gasping away, in front of her fan.?

That's given me a good laugh DL. Glad it's not just me, nurses always break out in a sweat trying to get blood out of me. My veins are crap and the minute I see the needle, they disappear completely. I remember one nurse saying 'goodness, I've never seen that happen before.

Mr. S. is like you and I envy you both for your veins.

Good to know you've had a break from your stepson's texts; long may it continue.

Well, been a good day here. No mad texts from stepson last night, visited some friends, and my knee held up well for blood tests this morning.?

The nurse made me laugh - she said, "Oh thank God it's you, and not "Mr DL,"... your veins are great for getting blood, unlike your husband's. I usually end up sweating and feeling like I'm rolling round the floor with him, trying to find a decent vein" ?

I told her to feel free to roll around with him, he needs some excitement in his life lol ?

Thanks hugs. The dogs have been groomed so are looking gorgeous for going away tomorrow.

Sorry you're still feeling a bit low DSL. Sounds as if you've had a busy day so far so taking a break is definitely in order. Your buyers aren't really helping either are they. Perhaps they could do with a little more hare and little less tortoise.

Oh it is upsetting to see your garden suffering Normandygirl with all the hard work and the expense that goes into getting them ready for the summer.

We don't have to put up with that now as we have a roof terrace and no garden. Yes, everything in pots and tubs does take some watering but at least we don't have to watch them die.

These are for you and no watering required.

Very hot and humid here too. Not had any rain for weeks and the garden looks like a savanna ,the plants are all dying on their feet ,a bit like myself. We have a hosepipe ban so there is not a lot I can do but it pains me to see my lovingly planted plants looking so forlorn.
I am concentrating on inside jobs, painting every wall and ceiling in the house but I am horrified by the filth and dust every time I pull a piece of furniture out . I'm sure I vacuumed behind there didn't I ?

Hugs......glad you feel a bit better. Tbh I feel my buyers are dragging their heels too. Frustrating isn't it. That's why I've decided to crack on with the decluttering, not packing yet though. But hopefully the more I declutter now the easier it will be when the time comes

Smiles......have a lovely time. It sounds wonderful.

Again it's humid and sultry here, saves as yesterday. Not nice. Don't really fancy gardening still feeling a bit low. So, instead of wallowing in self pity I'm busy Marie Kondo-ing my wardrobes and bedrooms. I am having a really good turf out, very cathartic. I have got several bags for. the charity shop but there's still plenty more. Lol.

Hopefully when I have lost some weight I can have another go.

Need a break now, I'm shattered. Little and often. Remembering the tortoise and the hare, ?

So glad you can get out to your craft group Whiff. Have fun.

Enjoy getting ready for your lodge time smiles.

I slept a lot better last night for having made some progress. There's still loads of nonsense to iron out but our buyer taking over a month to even get started really was stressing me. He does finally seem to have hit the ground running which was such a relief.

Thanks, Whiff, it’s quinine that’s good for cramp and is in tonic water..must up my G n T’s!

Agree about reunion programs, find them upsetting.

The lodge sounds an oasis of calm,Smiles.

Moving house is stressful, but has it’s rewards.

Have a good day everyone ?

For me moving was something essential. I couldn't cope any longer in my house and it felt like a mill stone round my neck . I needed a new life and new challenges. I was looking forward to finally seeing both families more than 3-4 times a year.

I got my wish for a while . But even the estrangement with my son hasn't damped how I feel about moving. It's what I had needed. Said before I live my life to the full now no longer just exist. My neighbours are wonderful and if I hadn't moved still wouldn't have know what was wrong with me. While not seeing my son and 3 grandson's for 2 years is a negative I have a lot of positives. Have wobbles but that's life.

Can go to craft group today only realised yesterday the X2 is a Stagecoach bus and not on strike . Only one a hour but means I can go. Really missed it last week. But most are getting there today.

Funny how my exercise class and craft group have become such a big part of my life. Made wonderful friends.

Sorry your neighbour is still a pain Yogin . Is the parking situation any better?

House buying and selling is stressful but to me it was worth all the tears and sleepless nights.

Dotcom my mom suffered with night cramps for years . The doctor gave her a tablet which helped but can't remember what it was .

I can't watch anything to do with family reunions just makes me cry.

Raining here today. Saves watering the garden.

Whole month at the lodge Smiles you ,Mr S and the dogs wouldn't want to leave you will be so chilled out.

Take care everyone. X

Morning everyone. A bit cool and overcast here this morning but supposed to brighten up and the next few days look good which is great because we're going to our lodge tomorrow, for the whole of August.

Hope we'll never be moving again, if only because we I have so much 'stuff' . If we do, hopefully we'll still have our flat which is looking really lovely but still some work to do, so if we want or need to down size, and moving there would be a serious case of down sizing, we wont have the hassle of buying, just the hassle of selling.

Hopefully your sales will be completed in the next couple of months hugs and DSL and your lives will settle down again.

Good neighbours are worth their weight in gold and we're so lucky to have our girls living next door who are like members of our family. The trouble is of course you never know who you're going to get do you.

DSL I'm sorry you are having the stress of moving although you more than most know the system. I didn't realise how many documents they needed and why they can't check the Electoral Roll, your Passport or Driving licence. I'm even more nervous now. Your grandchildren love you not the house, you have to think what's best for you. I would sell first, get that out if the way but know the area I want to move to. Got to take that first step and get on the treadmill though.
Yoga, sorry your new place isn't quite what you expected. However you had been wanting to move for some time and that move was the hardest but also necessary. Perhaps the nasty neighbour will soften or move because it's him that has tainted it for you. I just wish there was some way you coukd work found him. Fingers crossed it will get sorted. You just never know what sort of neighbour any if us could end up with.
Hugshelp it seems everything is on track but at their own pace it's really bad the sysrem in this country. You rarely meet anyone with a trouble free sale and buy story.
Oh dear, it's like a house moving thread from me this morning. Hope everyone is well.

I remember you too Sparkly welcome back, but would have been better if you had had a story of reuniting.

I watched that 'Families reunited' last night, so very sad, the episode where the 88yr old saw for the first time, Xmas & birthday cards from his mum

Box not there today DSL and no there wasn't a button Whiff to get rid

My GD said to me a few weeks ago that she liked my other house better and I replied that I did too

Ouch, sorry to hear about the bad cramp Dot. It's something I've started suffering from much more acutely just these last few months. Must me another of those joys of ageing.

The French system sounds a lot better. Normandygirl.

Mixed day. Started with the integrated dishwasher conking out. Repair guy's been (we've had him years and he's very good and fair) but has to come back with a part on Friday. We let him leave the kitchen rather disorganised to save starting again.
Went out for a lovely walk.
Got back to verification - at last - that our buyer has put his documents in and has asked his solicitor to press on with contract and searches. Yay.
Got an email from the company my solicitor was using to verify ID and finances (which has already caused so much grief because the solicitor just changed to the system and clearly don't understand it). I couldn't use it because they can only do ppl who have a driving licence and passport (which the solicitor didn't know) so I took all my papers in to solicitor. Now I'm getting emails asking me to complete my ID checks. I'm hopeful it's just the stupid system but I'll have to ring the solicitor to sort that.

It's an 'orangery' Whiff so not a normal extension, and no flat roof, plus they've converted the loft.

I don't think there is any way to buy and sell without constant low level stress involved but I do think the British system is the worst of all worlds because buyers and sellers are allowed to withdraw without penalty ,which seems very unfair and expensive to the other party. In France , as soon as an offer is made and accepted, a "promise to buy/sell" is signed and neither party can withdraw from the sale, so both parties know that the sale will go ahead. A buyer can't change their mind and the seller can't sell to anyone else for a higher price. The downside over here though, is estate agents charge a minimum of 10% of asking price [ paid by the buyer] so they only have to sell a few houses a year to make a living wage, meaning they are not super motivated to push your house. Having bought and sold in both countries, I definitely found the British system the most stressful as nothing could be relied upon until the end. Almost destroyed my faith in people.

Welcome back Sparkly, , I remember you well. It’s good you’re in a better place now. We don’t always get the life we choose but that doesn’t mean it won’t be a happy one.

Allsorts exactly. There can be joy in tiny moments even when estranged. Thank you for remembering me.

SparklyGrandma 14 years is a long time . You must be very strong to have got through all those years. So lovely to see you here though . Proves you can survive estrangement and still have a good life. ?

Thank you Whiff I’m so glad it all hasn’t made me bitter.

Thanks for your supportive messages,Hugs and Yogin.
Think we’ve all reached out only to be shut down..

Seems some of you were awake early the same as me this morning.
Applaud you for being able to type so early, I was forced out of bed with agonising cramp!

Over the years we’ve learned much of the building trade, estate agents and solicitors.
We’ve become quite savvy with the ways of the world, yet somethings are quite elusive.

It’s beautiful out and want to tidy up the garden as the heat and wind have played havoc with the plants.

Enjoy your day ?

Wasn't that lovely Whiff them knowing that their mum would have wanted you living there.

Smiles it was the executors estate agent who told me how much they wanted me to have it . They said their mom would want me to have it thats why they waited for me.

Hugs hope the bungalow hasn't got a flat roof on the extension. Don't want to frighten you but Shandy57 on the house and home forum Stress buying and selling etc. Had the flat roof on the extension blow off. Even though her surveyor said it was sound. Mind you her surveyor in my opinion didn't do his job. Yogin knows who I mean . She has other problems with the bungalow.

You need to make sure your surveyor does a thorough job. Even checking air bricks and looking at floor boards and uses a damp meter.

Keeping my fingers and everything I'm physically capable of crossing, crossed for you hugs.

Your positive posts about moving are keeping me going whiff in the midst of what seems like an endless grind to get things happening. I will get the planning permission issues check out smiles - really hoping all these issues are just things we can iron out because I really do love the bungalow and we looked at loads.

I knew you'd had problems Whiff but hadn't realised that had it not been for the will's executors you'd have lost it. Some things really are meant to be.

Tom would be high maintenance wouldn't he DSL but it would be worth it wouldn't it. I think you're right not booking a viewing atm. Is it possible for you to spend some time in the area, getting a feel for the location, possibly staying over for a night or two?

I'm sure the GC love your current home DSL but that's because it's GM's and GM is there. They'll love your new home too where ever it may be for the same reasons.

Make sure that if any modifications would have required planning permission, they got it hugs. Years ago we were going to buy a beautiful 'chocolate box' cottage for a holiday home. Thimble Cottage on Pudding Lane.

We were well on the way when during a 'phone conversation I happened to say to the solicitor that the extension had been done so well, you'd think it was part of the original building. She said "what extension?". There was no planning permission so we had to pull out.

Those are the times I miss him the most, thank goodness they don't happen that often Yogin. I know that just to see him walk into the same room and say 'mum' would be all I need.

A much better morning here today. Yesterday was pretty miserable all day but did improve at tea time so we had a BBQ. Love 'em and just have to get as many in when we can.